Next up was Gibson, who worked under Jim Daley his first year and had the Bomber offence ranked eighth.

His two-year contract bought him another chance. And running new boss Doug Berry's offence last season, Gibson's unit ranked sixth. An improvement, to be sure, but there were still times the play-calling left you scratching your head.

Like Gibson, Cartwright comes in with a two-year deal. And, like Gibson, he'll be at the controls of the machine Berry built.

Berry wants his new right-hand man pushing his own buttons immediately. So when Kevin Glenn throws an incomplete pass on second and two, we'll know who chose the play.

It's the easiest job to second-guess.

Cartwright's U.S. college resume is extensive: 11 schools in 30 years. His one stint as a head coach produced a 7-36 record, including 0-11 his final year, at Butler University in Indianapolis.

Before that, though, he helped the team set 10 school records as offensive co-ordinator.

He's known as a passing game guy, but this will be his first crack at pro ball on either side of the border.

"I've been involved with some very high profile collegiate programs, where there's a lot on the line, big football games and big pressure situations," Cartwright said. "So I think I'm prepared that way."

Thing is, he's got barely three months to prepare for his first drive in three-down football, with a quarterback he's never met, against defences he's never seen.

And in front of fans who know a bad call when they see it, sometimes even when they don't.